Mother St. John’s mission in action: she gathered women ‘without distinction,’ bringing different ages and classes together under one roof; the workshop included women whose resources permitted them to work on behalf of the poor, mothers who needed to work for their children and finally, young women who were apparently on their own. With such diversity, this group not only produced artisan goods but also brought together people who given their social differences, would rarely gather socially. Thus, while the nation was feeling the tensions of class divisions, and increasing poverty, the Sisters of St. Joseph in Monistrol were forging community.
From Anything of Which Woman is Capable, Mary M. McGlone, CSJ, pages 42 – 43